Pip Error — ERROR: No module named pip

When pip suddenly stops working

Situation

• After installing packages with pip, running pip install --upgrdae pip raises an Access is denied. error.
• Running python -m pip install --upgrdae pip raises No module named pip.

Cause

pip install --upgrade pip uninstalls the existing pip and reinstalls it. If the reinstall step fails, the error above is printed.

Solution

Reinstall pip

• Download get-pip.py, or copy the source from this link and create get-pip.py manually.
• Run the get-pip.py file.

curl https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py -o get-pip.py
python get-pip.py